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H. F. WAITI-I. VERTICAL FLUOROSCOPIC UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED N0V.20 1920.

1,420,395. I PatentedJuneZO, 1922..

5/ I 25" I I L 2 1.22/ I 54 I W I INVENTOR \J I fla/r/Pr [IVA/75 UNITED STATES HARRY F. WAITE. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

vnnrrcer, FLUOROSCOPIC UNIT.

Application filed November 20. 1920.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY F. News, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vertical F luoroscopic Units, of which the following a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a unit of this character with a swinging screen which may be placed in any desired relation tothe body of the person being observed and in close proximity to the controls. the controls and screen always being so arranged that they will be adjacent regardless of the level at which the screen is placed or of the position on the screen under observation so that under all circumstances it will be possible for the observer to hold the screen in a proper position with one hand while with the other he controls the strength and intensity as well as the location of the X- rays.

This and other objects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For a more detailed description of my in vention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which the figure shows a perspective view of my improved unit with parts broken away to more clearly reveal the structure.

My improved unit 1 has a conventional cabinet 2 with a fluoroscopic screen 3 suspended by two cords 4 and 5 in the conventional manner, and these cords pass over the pulleys 6 and thence over other pulleys, not shown, to the counter-weight This counterweight is also connected to another cord 7 which passes over a suitable pulley 8 and thence runs to the vertically movable frame 9 which is guided by rails 10 in the rear of the frame 2 in the conventional manner. The vertical movable frame 9 carries the horizontal movable frame 11, in the usual way, and this frame supports a bracket 12 which carries a casing 13 in which is mounted an X- ray tube 14 in the usual way. The upper end of this tube 14 has an anode 15 with its heat radiating surfaces 16 and this anode 15 is connected by any suitable connection 17 with a source of electricity, as will be readily understood.

The lower end of the tube let is provided with the conventional cathode connection 18 which runs to a rheostat 19 carried by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922.

Serial No. 425,294.

frame 11. and this rheostat is connected to a source of electricity, as one end of a transformer, by the twin wires 20 which supply not only the Xq'ay generating current but also the cathode heating current which is used in the apparatus.

The frame 11 carries two concentric shafts each of which is provided with a hand wheel. The outer shaft 21 carries a hand wheel 22 and the inner shaft 23 carries a hand wheel 2 1. The outer shaft 21 is connected to a crank 25 which connects with a link 26 that runs to the shuttermechanism 27 in the conventional manner and the inner rod 23carries another crank 28 which connects with a link 29 that runs to another part of the shutter 27 so that by turning the wheel 2 1 it is possible to regulate the opening between the screen 3 and the X-ray tube 14; by horizontal, movable shutters and by turning the hand wheel 22 it is possible to regulate this opening by vertical, movable shutters so that by regulating by either or both of these wheels it is possible to control the number of X-rays which pass through the patient and to the screen 3.

The frame 11 also carries a downwardly extending bracket 30 with downwardly extending arms 31 which at their lower end carry a horizontally disposed shaft 32 which is provided with a hand wheel 33 at its front end and near its rear end, and between the arms 31, it is provided with a small pulley wheel 34 which carries a belt 35 that runs to a pulley 36 on the rheostat 19 and by means of which the rheostat may be regulated so as to determine the amount of heatingcurrent that may flow through the cathode. It is obvious that by varying this heating current the glow of the cathode may be regulated and as the intensity of radio activity will depend upon the glow the number of X-rays generated is subject to the control of the rheostat 19, and this rheostat is controlled by turning the hand wheel 33. A suitable stop, not shown, on the rheostat prevents any improper movement of any of its parts. As such stops are always provided on rheostats, further description seems unnecessary.

In view of the foregoing, the operation of my improved unit will be readily understood. Assuming that the operator wishes to examine a patent, the patient stands in front of the frame 2 and immediately in rear of the screen 3, and then the operator raises or low ers the screen 3 until he has it at the desired level. While he raises or lowers this screen,

he also raises or lowers the X-ray tube 14 to correspond and he provides for horizontal regulation of the tube by pulling or shoving one of the wheels 22 or 24:. As these wheels are always close to the screen 3 there is no difficulty in doing this and it is easy for him to regulate the diaphragm opening at any desired location by simply turning one of these wheels. The operator can also reach the hand wheel 33 and thereby control the intensity of the X-ray generation, as above described, so that while he is making his observations and without disturbing the pa tient or moving his own body, he is able to regulate the application of the X-rays according to his desires.

While I have shown and described, one embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that it is not restricted thereto, but that it is broad enough to cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hot cathode tube for generating X-rays, a fiu0roscopic screen adapted to receive said rays, means for causing the fluoroscopic screen and X-ray tube to be raised or lowered'together or be supported in a stationary condition at the'same level, a control for regu lating the uantity of X-ray generation which exten s adjacent to the screen and which is supported by the means for supporting the X-ray generating tube.

2. In a device of the class described, a fluoroscopic screen and means for supporting the same, an X-ray tube adjacent to said screen and means for supporting the same, means for keeping the screen and X-ray tube at corresponding levels, a rheostat carried by said tube supporting means and a rheostat regulating means carried by said tube supporting means with a part always adjacent to said screen whereby the quantity of X-ray generation may be controlled by an operator Ilgolding the screen and without moving his ody.

In testimony whereof, I have set my hand this 12th day of November, 1920.

HARRY F. WAITE. 

